Memorable MondaySharing Memories

I''ve been thinking about getting my blog ready to slurp into a book. I've been really bad at keeping up my blog and realizing that I need to catch up on my blog before I can work on my book. I love having my blog books around the house that summarized the past year. My kids look at the book often and I love to remember the times we had. I've even used it as a reference book to look up important dates that I need. Blogging is not an easy task for me and requires a lot of time, but the effort is worth it.

Before I blogged, I used to scrapbook with my sister and we would spend time making cute scrapbook pages. It was so fun to scrapbook and interact with my sister and share ideas. I really miss that creative part of sharing events and memories with my family. Writing in my blog gets some of my memories and feelings written down on paper. I often have the opportunity to write my testimony and hope that it's read by my family members often. I really have enjoyed using the Memorable Mondays to reminisce on memories of the past. I've enjoyed writing in my blog and plan to continue in the future.

Duty to God - Deacon

Josh finished his Deacon portion of the Duty to God award this year. He needed a 10 hour service project to complete the project. He cooked his Grandma and Grandpa Wall some dinners and painted this picnic table for them.

Josh did some amazing things to earn this award. He worked really hard to accomplish this section of the Duty to God. It's not easy to earn, but worth it in the end.

Great Job Josh!

Band Showcase Concert

Mesa High School held a Showcase Concert featuring the bands of Mesa High, Taylor Junior High, and Mesa Junior High. The Mesa High Jazz Band started the night off playing a couple of songs. I really enjoyed listening to the Jazz Band and I recognized several members of the band. The Taylor Band was next and they played "Ascend". Josh was really excited to play this particular song on the Mesa High stage. The Mesa Junior High band performed next and they performed well. I especially loved watching the girl with the pink clarinet. Who knew that they made clarinets that color? Mesa High took the stage next and performed for all the Junior High kids. My niece, Ashley, is in the band and it was great to see and hear her perform. She is first chair in the flute section, so she is easy to spot. After their performance, they asked for all the Junior High band members to join the Mesa High band for a number. There were so many kids on the stage that I couldn't see Josh until they stood up. This was a great evening to encourage the Junior High students to participate in band in high school. A few clarinet players from Mesa High told Josh that he did a great job on the combined number. That statement alone will encourage Josh to continue playing in the band at Mesa High.

Thanks Mesa High Band!!!

Memorable Monday A Memorable Visit

When I started writing my "Memorable Monday" posts on my blog, I wanted to write some memorable moments of my past so that my children could get a sense of who their mom truly is.  I've tried to connect current events that triggered past memories, but sometimes I can't find that connection.  Today, I just wanted to write about a funny story that happened with my high school friends.

I had a high school friend named Wesley.  He was a top notch kid who every parent liked and never got into trouble.  He has some fun and crazy ideas though.  There were many times that Wesley, Tracie, Brad, and I hung out and had some great times.  One night, we were hanging out together and needed something exciting to do.  Wesley had a great idea that we should visit his Grandma and we all agreed that we would be cool.  We were surprised when Wesley drove us to the cemetery.  He forgot to mention that his Grandma had passed away.  He wasn't exactly sure where the grave was, so we walked around in the dark clearing snow around to see if he could see her grave stone.  A police officer was in the area and wondered why four teenagers would be in a cemetery at night while there was snow on the ground.  He approached the four of us and I was scared out of my mind.  Wesley very calmly explained to the officer that he came to pay his respects to his Grandma.  He quickly found the grave stone and sad a few words to his Grandma before leaving the cementer y while the  police officer waited.  He followed us out of the cemetery.  Let's just say that we didn't visit any more of Wesley's relatives again!!!!

13 Articles of Faith

Danni and Angela were recognized in a stake meeting tonight for Memorizing all 13 Articles of Faith last year. The Stake invited 13 kids to recite each Article of Faith and Angela was asked to recite the 9th one. She practiced all week on memorizing the 9th Article of Faith again and it was awesome to hear her recite it in front of her peers. Last year, Danni and Angela didn't attend the meeting, so it was so rewarding to attend this special meeting with my girls. I'm so proud of my girls!!

Martin Luther King Day Parade

Josh marched in the Martin Luther King parade today. It was so much fun to watch the parade with the Clawsons. We waited patiently for the Taylor Junior High Band to make their appearance in the parade, and it was worth it. When we saw the band from the distance, we cheered them on. Mr Quamo and Mrs. Piraino held the Taylor Jr. High banner while the Trojan mascot marched alongside the band. We were able to get a really good view of Josh when he marched past us. It was great to hear the band and we think they were the best band in the parade. The kids enjoyed the parade especially when balloons and candy was given out. It was great to see Josh march in the parade.

Memorable MondayParents

Jim and I are taking a "Strengthening the Family" course in our stake to help us become better parents.  The course started last week and we are learning so much.  It's amazing how much work goes into being great parents.  Both Jim and I have great parents who have been great examples to us.  We have a lot to learn and hope that we can raise our children in the ways that we have been taught.

Paces

Walls

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No More Braces for Me

Danni was thrilled to finally get her braces off today. She has been a patient of Dr. Robison since she was 7 yrs old. She look gorgeous with her new smile and we couldn't be happier.

Thanks Dr. Robison!!!

Memorable MondayChanging Nicknames

Dani is changing the spelling of her nickname to Danni. I remember changing the spelling of my nickname just before high school. My nickname was spelled Tammy and it worked for me in elementary and middle school. I realized that a lot of people with that particular spelling. I wanted to have a unique spelling and practiced the summer before high school spelling my name Tami. Since I was going to a new school and meeting new people, changing the spelling of my nickname wouldn't cause any problems. I love spelling my name Tami and I'm so glad that I made the change. When Danni talked to me about changing the spelling of her name, I was a little sad a first then I realized that she was doing the same thing that I did and I should support her. I need to practice writing Danni just as I did with my own names several years ago.

Family Proclamation

So much has happened to my family this year and it's only the second week. We have been studying the Family Proclamation in our parenting class and found this section to be very comforting at this particular time.

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. "

I'm so grateful for this document and the powerful message that it sends. Families are so important to our Heavenly Father's Plan.  It is through families that we can learn the principles of repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, and compassion.  I've seen these principles in work with my family this year so far.  I love my family dearly and so glad that Heavenly Father organized us into families.  

Memorable MondayA Hour

Josh took an A hour PE class last semester to give him an extra class during school hours..  This semester, Mr. Quamo is holding an elective A hour class three times a week for those kids who want to spend that extra hour in band.  Josh really loves band and wants to have that extra hour in band.

I remember taking A hour seminary with Tracie so that we could have an extra hour during school to practice.  Tracie would pick me up early in the morning and we would go to early morning seminary.  It was hard to go to seminary that early in the morning, especially when it was still dark outside.  It seemed worth it when Tracie and I went to a small practice room in the band room to practice during the last hour of school.   Tracie and I worked on duets and solos that we planned to take to competition.  We even found some time to talk.  That last hour of the day was one of the highlights of my senior year.  Tracie is such an amazing musician and I was so lucky to learn from her. We need that A hour seminary class to get that free hour and I'm so glad that Tracie and I took advantage of that opportunity so we could spend so much time together our senior year.  In the fall, Tracie headed off the the U and I moved to AZ.